Mikel Arteta has said Arsenal’s superiority over Paris Saint-Germain was “crystal-clear” despite their Champions League exit and reacted spikily to more questions about the Gunners’ failure to sign a striker during the January transfer window.
Arsenal dominated the early stages of their semi-final second leg at PSG on Wednesday before conceding in either half to ensure Bukayo Saka’s late reply was only a consolation in a 3-1 aggregate defeat.
“100%,” Arteta replied when he was asked whether he still believed Arsenal were the better side. “I’m watching it back, I’m watching all the stats. It’s very clear.
“But it’s not about the winning probability or what you merit – it’s about making it happen and making it count. When you look at the important stats that normally give you the best chance to win football matches, it’s crystal-clear that we were better.”
“I don’t think there’s been a better team in the competition so far”
Mikel Arteta speaks on the progress of his Arsenal team, and believes they’ve been the best team in the Champions League despite losing to PSG 💪
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Arsenal transfers: ‘Not that many’ strikers
Arsenal finished on an expected goals tally of 3.14 to PSG’s 1.74 and had 19 of the 30 attempts at goal between the teams during the second leg, but the French champions had six of the 10 efforts on target, leading to inevitable scrutiny over whether a lack of an out-and-out forward has cost Arteta.
Forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are out injured, while Saka is Arsenal’s top scorer in Europe with six goals and no player has reached double figures in their distant Premier League title bid. Champions Liverpool have the leading marksman in the division in Mohamed Salah.
“Do I have to make it more clear?” Arteta retorted when he was pressed on not adding a forward. “Was it clear in January or not?
“I want the best team, the best players. If we have three scorers of over 25 [goals], bring them in – we’re going to be a much better team. There are not that many in the Premier League.”
Arsenal ‘super strong’ without signings
Arteta said he had been impressed with how Arsenal had been able to “play the way we did and suffocate them in the way we did” against PSG, for whom goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made several exceptional saves.
“I will try to improve, but certainly improve and love the ones we have right now,” he said, suggesting that Arsenal will persevere with the attacking options they have, including using midfielder Mikel Merino up front.
“Especially after losing, it’s too easy to go and look elsewhere and not use the moment to judge. It’s all relative to the context and moment and why you want the narrative that you’re going to generate.
“We are a super strong team. I’m very, very positive about it. We could easily have been in the Champions League final with those stats, doing exactly the same thing.”
Arsenal visit Liverpool on Sunday (16:30 BST) in the first of their final three games of the season.
